Shoes, yes; road work, maybe

July 23, 2013 - Rob Weaver

Attention, shoppers: I received a call today stating Shoe Sensation, which was damaged by a fire next door at T.J. Willie's restaurant May 31, is to reopen by the end of next week.

The shoe store could reopen Aug. 2.

In an unrelated note, as a sidebar to Tuesday's editorial regarding Gov. John Kasich's Jobs and Transportation Plan, the Ohio Department of Transportation sent an email Monday with a complete list of projects across Ohio included in the proposal.

Here's what is planned for northwest Ohio:

1. Erie County U.S. Route 250 – Widen and improve U.S. Route 250 from U.S. 6 to Bogart Rd. Total project cost is $31,700,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2015 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 12+ years.

2. Hancock County I-75 – Reconstruct U.S. 224 bridge and interchange with I-75. Total project cost is $12,500,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2014 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 13+ years.

3. Lucas County McCord Grade Separation– Rail grade separation at McCord Road (CR 73) to improve safety. Total Project Cost is $29,300,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2014 and without this plan would not have started until 2015. Time saved is one year. 4. Lucas County Interstate 75 – Reconstruct, widen and add a third lane along I-75 from Phillips Rd. to I-280. Total project cost is $51,000,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2015 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 12 + years. 5. Lucas County Interstate 75– Reconstruct interchange at I-75 and I-475 to improve safety and reduce congestion. Total project cost is $175,900,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2015 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 12+ years. 6. Lucas County Interstate 475/U.S. Route 20 – Reconstruct interchange at I-475 and U.S. Route 20 to improve safety. Total project cost is $59,000,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2015 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 12+ years. 7. Wood County I-75—Four phases of reconstruction, widening and addition of a third lane along I-75. Total Project Cost is $195,600,000. Construction date under Jobs and Transportation Plan is 2014 and without this plan would not have started until after 2027. Time saved is 13+ years.

These projects already were in the wish-list planning stage; funds from the sale of bonds backed by Ohio Turnpike tolls are to help these projects be finished before they otherwise would have started.

Will this free up state funding for other projects, such as improvements to SR 53 in Seneca County? Maybe we can add that to our wish list.